Koforidua, Dec. 11, GNA - The death is reported in Koforidua of Mr Tom Bennet Brentuo, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) after a short illness. Mr Brentuo, 59, also the Eastern Regional Manager of the Ghana News Agency, joined the nation's wire service in 1972 as a clerical officer and later as a reporter.

He rose through the ranks to the position of a Senior Editor before his death on December 5.

Mr Brentuo was a vociferous human rights activist, servicing the Ghana Chapter of Amnesty International in various capacities to bring to the fore man's inhumanity to man and was recently requested to serve on the Eastern Regional Peace Committee.

As well as writing for the GNA, Mr Brentuo also served as a correspondent of the Catholic Standard for years. This earned him a number of awards from the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference for the yeoman job he did in highlighting the mission of the Catholic community in the Eastern Region. A close associate of the deceased, Mr Edmund Quaynor, described Mr Brentuo's death as a great loss to GNA, the GJA, peace lovers in the world, the Catholic Church, the Chiefs and people of Atwede Traditional Area and to him personally.

Another colleague Mr A.C. Ohene, Editor of the Heritage newspaper, recalled fond memories working with the late Mr Brentuo and described him as a dedicated, meticulous and serious journalist. The deceased left behind a wife, four children and eight grand children.